Wednesday, February 28, 2007

I'm absolutely addicted to whether or not North Korea will demand food and money for compliance with some agreement that it will inevitably pull out of like a spoiled brat throwing a temper tantrum; and to crossing my fingers in the hopes that one of the "Friends" alums will star in a new television show that will last past Christmas; and to listening for Cuban Salsa music fade into the night on hot rods speeding to Havana after Castro finally goes "muerto."

Doesn't matter where in the world or what in the world, I am addicted to knowing what is going on in it. Not to mention sticking the earphones in is a great excuse to ignoring the acrobatic chaos around me at work.

See I'm in public relations and therefore required to be up to date on the latest happenings everywhere. How made for me is that? Funny thing is that it is made for all the guys around me too. We get to dissect then debate, curse and spit at each other over every political, social and economic issue as if our opinions on the matters will be drafted up for Congress.

So my iPod has podcasts from every news outlet there is from Asia to Africa to Texas. And now that I'm looking at all those Time Mag 50 Coolest Websites, I can tune in even more. www.podcastpickle.com was one of their picks and with its subtle green banners and cucumber-shaped font, I am directed to the craziest, freakiest, stuffiest and coolest podcasts available on the web. You can even sign up for a random drawing that, if you are just that lucky, gives you the honor of being the Pickler and tracking down the newest podcasts and posting them to the site.

It's a total underground for edgy casts that wouldn't make it to places like iTunes. Can't get more ahead of the news than with Griddlecast Radio, The Nate and Di Show or the Zedcaster. Wait til they read this at work. I'll lose my edge.

Monday, February 26, 2007

I'm the middle desk in an office with five desks...kinda like the center of a three-ring circus. My companions at Barnum and Bailey are four men, who act more like fraternity brothers than serious colleagues at a professional place of business. But in our line of work, frivolity is a must. The Ringleader works in the office directly attached to ours at the top of the room--naturally, we all face that office paying daily homage to the fact that we are indeed the peons.

But one of our best "fun things" to pass the time is Jon's "Climb into the Wheel" board. A rat runs on the wheel in one corner and underneath it is a list where we ensure immortality for our work mates. Say something stupid. It goes on the board. I generally make the list a couple of times a week.

It's hard to surf the net, buy stuff or chat online in a room with no walls and absolutely no privacy. But sneaking in a surf or two, I've found some really cool things to keep me from drowning in our serious work (you know, the endless lists, stimulating briefs and super important research I have to do everyday.)One of those things is how to live a long time.

Time Magazine did a piece called "50 Coolest Websites of 2005." I didn't see one for '06 but these will do. The first one to catch my eye was www.livingto100.com -- although I'm not sure why anyone would want to live that long.Checking to make sure everyone was on the phone, watching the news or otherwise busy, I took five minutes to fill in my unhealthy eating habits, running-to-the-couch exercise routine and avoiding my sister's nasty smoking habits; and of course, a short medical history bit like ulcers from Texas Pete and high cholesterol from Taco Bell.

After the relatively invasive questions, I ran to the printer before anyone else could see and guarded the 33-page document as it printed. I will indeed live until I'm 88 years old...probably in a nursing home somewhere in Florida since my husband's swears he's going by 60. But shuffle board aside, it listed a dozen or more things I can do to ensure I live the extra 12 years. But concealing online questionnaires is easier than reading a huge printout of stolen ink so I'll have to wait until I snuggle on my fluffy living room couch to reach the highly anticipated ending.

Besides, the secretary just ran in here. The boss is ready for her major important briefing.

Now.

My important work must be done. Uh-oh...phone's ringing. Secretary's arms are crossed. Foot tapping. Finger on her watch.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Trendy website that is what it says. Posting secrets. Mostly short one or two liners. Some are funny….”I sent my husband flowers with a note that said “Give these to your wife tonight when you get home.”

Others are serious: a photo of a dead man marked in white chalk reads “When they asked me if he suffered, I always say no. The truth doesn’t matter anyway.”

More are sappy—taped to a Mexican flag is “I’m learning Spanish so I can tell you I love you and it will mean more than if I say it in English….Te quiero Mateo.”

Even more are wistful…a photo of a waterfall splashing over boulders and surrounded by trees reads “I want to go home, but I haven’t found it yet.”

And of course, the angry ones “I hate your post punk guitar riffs; I never told you I was a concert violinist.”

And all this tornado of emotion does is make me think about what secret I would write. But why? Is it kinda like that whole write a letter to yourself about something that’s tearing you up and then burn it in symbolic release? Maybe but not for me.Could just be that some of the posts are so hilarious that I want to join in. I had a liposuction consult by a German doctor with crazy, wild hair who used to work in LA. He laughed out loud at me for wanting to get rid of 5 pounds. Probably because I could shed them if I’d stop eating and get off the couch. But my irritant flab is not really a secret.

How about my secret desire to quit my PR job and be an Oscar winning actress. Good timing since the 2008 Oscar field is wide open right now. But I don’t think that would shock most folks either.

Could just be that I’d like to be able to express my opinion and damn the consequences. Nay…I do that anyway and the consequences aren’t as bad as I fear they will be before I just do it.

Maybe I just don’t have any secrets but I’d like to hang out with the cool people that do. The website is just too cool….so I’ll just put it in my favorites or make it my homepage and read all about every one else’s secrets. I can always post mine right here.

About Me

Hey there, I'm Jennifer Lovett Herbranson and welcome to one of my online homes. Thanks for stopping by! As a writer, teacher, USAF Veteran Public Affairs Officer, I am working on my first fiction series and here you'll find updates about my writing life and issues dealing with the lives of Veterans. Since I'm a Southern girl, I invite you to grab a mint julip, sit a spell and enjoy some good Southern hospitality.